Kenya on Monday extradited a citizen to the US for prosecution in connection with poaching, drug trafficking and illegal trading in animal trophies.
Abubakar Mansur Mohammed Surur aka Mansur was whisked to a New York-bound plane with his extradition coming just a few months after his arrest in July 2020 at Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Mansur was nabbed by the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Interpol on July 29, 2020, shortly after he had jetted in from Yemen. Mansur was on the wanted list of individuals operating as part of the syndicate that had been killing wildlife and selling their products. New York District Attorney Audrey Strauss revealed on the day of his extradition that he was a suspect in the matter.
“…Surur is alleged to be a member of an international conspiracy to traffic in rhino horns, elephant ivory, and heroin. The enterprise is allegedly responsible for the illegal slaughter of dozens of rhinos and more than 100 elephants, both endangered species. The excellent work of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the DEA has put an end to this operation,” said the New York District attorney as quoted by the Daily Nation.
The 60-year-old is to face a federal court where he will be charged with various counts. They include the illegal poaching of over 35 rhinos and more than 100 elephants. The other charged include being in possession of 190 kilograms (420 pounds) of rhinoceros horns and 10 tons (9 metric tons) of elephant ivory believed to be valued at over $7 million.
After his arrest last year, the Standard Digital dug deeper into his life and revealed that Mansur had moved to settle in Ziwani, Mombasa County, from Moyale in Marsabit County-Northern part of Kenya.
Apart from him is another Kenyan identified as Abid Hussein Ahmed, alias Abu Khadi, who is also a wanted man in the US.
Mansur is known for his philanthropic nature and even during his arrest when he was aboard chartered plan from Yemen which landed in Mombasa, he was with 33 Kenyans he had evacuated from the Middle East.